Barca boss braced for Messi bid

The financial and strategy director of FC Barcelona says it wouldn't shock him if Lionel Messi's release clause is activated by a rival club within the current inflated transfer market.

Despite signing a new lucrative contract last year, with a £625m (R10.3b) release clause inserted, Pancho Schroder remains uncertain the set price will deter potential suitors to make the bid for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi recently hit the 600-goal mark for the Blaugrana with his 32nd goal for the LaLiga side in the 2017/18 season and is widely regarded as the Spanish club's greatest ever player.

"We set up a clause which we think is enough to have Messi retire at FC Barcelona," Schroder told Sky Sports News.

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"But having said that, we thought a year ago that the clause for Neymar was also good enough to retain the player, and that proved last summer not to be the case.

"Looking at the future, I think, is difficult, but I don't have a crystal ball and these days things are getting a little bit crazy."